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According to Florida law, a person commits theft if he or she:

Knowingly obtains or uses, or endeavors to obtain or use the property of another with the intent to, either temporarily or permanently:

Deprive the other person of a right to the property or a benefit from the property,

OR

Appropriate the property to his or her own use or to the use of any person not entitled to the use of the property.

So basically, if you knowingly steal or attempt to steal something that isn’t yours, you’ve committed theft in Florida.

But it’s the value of the goods stolen determines the degree of the crime.

PETIT THEFT

Petit theft is the lowest level charge for theft in Florida. If you steal property that is valued at less than $100, you’ll be charged with petit theft in the second degree, which is a misdemeanor offense. The maximum punishment is up to 60 days in jail, and a fine of up to $500.

If you steal property that is valued at more than $100 and less than $300 you’ll be charged with petit theft in the first degree, which is also a misdemeanor offense. If convicted the maximum punishment is up to one year in jail, and a fine of up to $1,000.

GRAND THEFT

Grand theft is a felony offense with much harsher punishments. And unfortunately, if you steal any property valued at more than $300 you’re looking at grand theft charges.

If you steal property that is valued at more than $300 but less than $20,000 you will be charged with grand theft in the third degree, which is a felony. The maximum punishment is up to 5 years in prison, 5 years of probation, and a fine of up to $5,000.

If you steal property that is valued at more than $20,000 but less than $100,00, you’ll be charged with grand theft in the second degree, which is a felony. The maximum punishment is up to 15 years in prison, 15 years probation, and up to a $10,000 fine.

If you steal property valued at $100,000 or more, you’ll be charged with grand theft in the first degree, which is a felony. The maximum punishment is up to 30 years in prison, and a fine of up to $10,000.

DEFENSES TO THEFT CHARGES:

Consent – that defendant had consent of the owner to take or use the property

Lack of Intent - If the defendant had a good faith belief that he she owned the property, had a possessory interest in the property, or had a joint ownership interest in the property, this will serve as a complete defense to the charge.

Necessity or Duress

Mistake of Fact – If the defendant was under the mistaken belief that the property he took was his own.

More often than not, theft, (especially petit theft) is a cry for help, not the act of a hardened criminal. If you’ve been arrested on theft charges, give our office a call so that we can listen to your story and talk about the best course of action for you. One mistake should never have the power to ruin your life, and we’re here to help make sure of that. We’ve successfully handled many different types of theft charges and are confident we can give you the aggressive defense you deserve.

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With offices in both Fort Lauderdale and Sunrise, Rossen Law Firm is conveniently located to serve individuals all over South Florida.

Get Help Now

Take a moment to fill out the form on this page to get in touch with us, and we will get back to you shortly.